Distribution of mammals and hunting practices in Okpambe and Assam areas of the Takamanda Rainforest, South-West Cameroon

Abstract

Ecological and social surveys were conducted to determine the mammal distribution and hunting practices in Okpambe and Assam areas of the Takamanda rainforest. The results obtained show that 31 species of the mammals were encountered in the survey. Among these, 4 species are considered to be threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Putty nose monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans), Civet cat (Civettictis civetta) Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli). The Cross River Gorilla besides an endangered species is also endemic to the area. The Red Duikers (Cephalophus callipygus) were the highest species in abundance recording 70.3% obtained in the matured forest of the Okpambe area. The cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) were prominent in fallowed land and farmland of the two areas recording 80 and 50%, respectively. The highest diversity indexes were 1.55 in secondary forest and 1.66 in matured forest of the areas. The hunting technique commonly used in both areas is trapping with 77.4 and 72.5% in both areas. Most of the hunters preferred hunting in rainy season with 63 and 75% recorded in the two villages. The hunting periods and hunting techniques practices have greatly influence the distribution of mammals in these areas. Key words: Mammal, distribution, habitat type, hunting, trapping.